Market Recap: RISI Crow's Construction Materials Cost Index

Crow's Market Recap -- A condensed recap of the market conditions for the major North American softwood lumber and panel products as reported in Crow's Weekly Market Report.

Lumber: After light trading early, the SPF lumber market exhibited improvement Thursday. Trading increased, driven by a strong upward futures move, the need for buyers to purchase and news of large volumes sales to China. Trading was sluggish in Southern Pine lumber, forcing lower prices once again into the market. Buyers picked around the edges where price floors have been established, such as in 2x10 #2 and Standard decking. Inquiry levels in the Coastal species lumber market increased at midweek and turned into more orders by Thursday. With Asian markets more willing to participate at current Hem-Fir pricing, some producers chose to sell to those markets rather than domestically. The selection of Inland species lumber offered by producers at a discount diminished, as buyers took advantage of the opportunity. As mills sold off excess inventories they firmed prices and held closer to published list prices. Activity in Radiata Pine Mldg&Btr was light but matched availability. Weak sales of solid linear mouldings kept a lid on PonderosaPine Mldg&Btr sales. Producers reported little activity outside contract and program sales for either Mldg&Btr or Shop grades. The Ponderosa Pine board market continued to be a supply driven. Producers reported little in the way of excess inventory, but also noted quiet sales activity. Eastern White Pine producers reported a "slow and steady" market and firm pricing. ESLP sales remained on the quiet side. Western Red Cedar producers reported a steady or slightly slower pace, pointing to the calendar as a reason for any decline in demand. Order files at mills often extended into mid November.

Panels: Although OSB markets got off to a slower than usual start due to Thanksgiving in Canada and Columbus day in the U.S., signs of a firming trend in some regions began to appear later in the week. Light volumes of contract wood in the hands of secondaries contributed to the trend. Southern Pine plywood trading activity improved in the latter half of the week, firming prices and pushing mill order files out into the week of October 22. Traders were convinced that prices had found a bottom. Double digit price declines in Western Fir plywood failed to generate much business. Improved sales activity in western markets did materialize, but sales into the East remained limited. The market for Canadian plywood took a dramatic turn, as producers' priced aggressively in order to extend mill order files. Concerns regarding MDF availability now and in 2013 persisted. Although MDF order files at mills were not as lengthy as a few months ago, supplies remained tight. Particleboard sales were more of a struggle, particularly in the West.